Antifriction bearing



Oct. s, 1929. J, EOECNNOR 1,730,863

ANTIFRICTION BEARING Filed Jan. 14, 1924 Patented Oct. 8, 1929 UNITED STA-TES PATENT offeree,g

JOHN F. OCONNOB, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO W. H. MINER, INCL, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE ANTIFRICTION BEARING .ltpplcation` filed `Tanuary 14, 1924. Serial No. 686,007.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in anti-friction bearings.

One objecty of the invention is to provide a simple andv efficient anti-friction bearing, especially adapted for use on railway cars as a side bearingand which has both aplanc bearing surface and an anti-friction element sociated therewith, andwhereinthe anti-friction element willtakethe loadfand carry it in either direction for a predetermined amount of 'travel andfthen movefout of operative position so as to permit thefplane bearing surface to carry the load for any additional eX- cessive travel, the anti-friction element automatically returning toits normal central position when the load is released.

In the drawing forminv a part of this specification, Figure 1 is avertical sectional Viewy taken tliroughthe ends of the body and truck bolster of a car, showing my improvements in connection therewith. And Figure 2 is a verticalsectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

In said drawing, 10 denotes the under side of the body bolster andll the upper side of the corresponding opposed truck bolster'. rihe improved bearing is shown applied to the body bolster and comprises, broadly, a base casting, housing or retaining member A. a bearing plate B; and an anti-friction element proper, C.

The housing A is of more or less box-like form, having side walls 12, inturned or flanged adjacent their lower ends to form tracks 13. These tracks extend upwardly in opposite directions from their center, as clearly shown in Figure 1. The end walls 14 of the housing are curved and extended upwardly for their full width `to points as indicated at 111 and the end portions only are eX- tended still farther upwardly in the form of arcuate tianges l-l), as best shown in Figure 24 so as to leave a major opening 15 through which the body of the element C may be inserted. and centrally disposed slots 115 to permit the passage of the lugs 18 therethrough when the element C is assembled with the housing A. The bottom of the housing is open so as to permit the antifriction element proper to normally project therethrough for cooperation with the truck bolster', in a. manner to be hereinafter described, the ends of said housing heilig eX- tended, as indicated: at 16to'providc flat' or plane bearing surfaces of extended width and area adapted `to slidablyi engage the upper surface off the truck bolster', inamanner to bev In assembling the parts, the anti-friction element is inserted through the opening' 16 of the casting, the trunnions- 18 of the anti-friction element passing, through the narrow openings lliand thenresting on the trackways 13. The bearing block or plate B is thereafter permanently connected to the top of the housing, as by rivets 2t), thus providing a unitary structure for shipping and application. The bearing block suitably extended at its ends and is, in turn, adapted. vto be secured to thefbolster by other rivets 21.

1n operation, assuming that the bolster 11v ismoved toward the left relatively to the bolster 10, the anti-friction roller will be engaged and actuated by the bolster 11, rolling upwardly of its inclined bearing surface 17 and constantly and gradually moving upwardly relatively to the flat bearing surface 16 of the retaining. member, untilthe roller reaches its extreme position, indicated in dotted lines, when it is then entirely within or flush with the bearing surface 16,50 that said fiat face may then take up the load and be slidably engaged by the bolster 11. As soon yas theload is released and the bolster separated, the anti-friction roller will returnv to its normal centrall position' under the influence of gravity,` riding down the trackway 13 to the normal position shown in full lines.

Thusit isseen that I have provided a side bearing having both a iiat or plane bearing surface for taking care of eXtreme or excessive travel and an anti-friction element, Which taires the load for all normal ments. rlhe construction shown is simple, compact, durable, economical and eilicient in operation.

l have herein shown and describedwliat l noiv consider the preferred manner 'of ryine out my invention, but the same merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come Withi; the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim: y

l. In a side bearing, the combination with a retaining member adapted to be mounted on a bolster and having a iiatbearing surface slidably engageable With the cooperating opposed bolster; of an anti-friction element adapted to roll baclr and forth in said retain-k ing member and normally pr ject beyond said plane bearing surface, said element being movable inwardly relatively or" said plane bearing surface under load and lying entirely inwardly thereof at the end or" its travel so that said pla-ne bearing surface then taires the load.

2. ln a side bearing, the combination with retaining member adapted to be mounted on a bolster' and having a iiat bearing surface engageable With the cooperating opposed bolster and having an interior bearing surface inclined in opposite directions from the center; of a self-centering anti-friction element adapted to roll baclr and forth on said inclined bearing surface and normally project beyond said plane bea-ring surface, said element, When actuated under load, moving inwardly relatively of said plane bearing to lie entirely within said retaining member at the end of rolling movement so as to permit said plane bearing surface to then take up the load until released.

3. ln a side bearing, the combination with a retaining member adapted to be mounted on a bolster and having a roller-engaging bearing surface inclined in opposite directions rom the center and also having a iiat bearing surface adapted to slidably engage the opposed cooperating bolster; of an antitriction roller Within said member and normally projecting there-beyond so as to be actuated by said last-mentioned bolster to roll on said inclined bearing surface and move inwardly relatively of said plane bearing surtace as it rolls to its extreme position, so as to lie entirely inwardly of said flat bearing surface at the end ot rolling movement, ivhereat said flat bearing surface engages said last-mentioned bolster, said roller having trunnions projecting therefrom, and said re taining member having guide flanges for supporting said trunnions, whereby said roller automatically returns to normal position unases der the influence of gravity when the actuating pressure is released.

el. in a side bearing, the combination with a retaining member adapted to be mounted on a bolster and having a plane bearing face at its outer 'free end remote from said bolster, said bearing tace being adapted tor slidable engagement with an opposed bolster; a bearing surface Within said retainer having a central portion extending outwardly toward said bearing face, and 4having side portions inclined in opposite directions trom said central portion in a direction away from said bearing face; an anti-friction element disposed in said retainer, said element being capable of free travel along said bearing surface, and being ot' suoli proportion that When in central position it projects outwardly boyond said bearing face and provides an antifriction means bolster and said bearing suri'ace, the inclina* tion ot said bearing surface being such as to permit movementoi said element to either side olI central position and project beyond said bearing face to operate an ann-fric-4 tion element, said element during approach engagable with an opposed toward the end or" said retainer following said bearing surface and being gradually Withdrawn Within the same until said element eases to operate as an anti-friction bearing and permits engagement ot said bearing il'ace to permit further travel of said retainer' with respect to an opposed bolster.

ln Witness that l claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day of January 192e. c

JOHN F. CCQllNGl-l. 

